Field Of Dreams

Field of Dreams

During the late 80’s, Phil Alden Robinson developed a sensational story that revolved around a real life account of a sport tragedy. The viewers were immersed in a touching account of how sport, a social interest, can play a powerful role in human bonding; thus becoming a very spiritual component of life. It in itself has a profound effect on the societies’ spiritual experiences; and just like religion can respectfully be considered a form of spirituality for a modern society, as exemplified in Robinson’s movie �Field of Dreams’. This story resonates far beyond the power of dreams, its appeal lies in a vision of a perfect sport and the love for which can inadvertently resolve issues no matter how grand. The plot at first presents itself as a complex; or maybe even a strange series of events, but somehow its scenes string themselves into a moral about redemption and deep interpersonal bonds.

вЂ?Field of Dreams’ is a diversified script that constantly evolves, but mainly revolves around the game of baseball, вЂ?the greatest game ever invented’. The game that according to some avid spectators, completely and thoroughly transcends and binds the country to past, present, and future--generation to generation. In this movie this national pastime represents an avenue that finds the connection to the soul of a great audience; somehow insinuating that baseball acts as a means of fulfilling individual spiritual needs. These needs are that of a вЂ?sense of belonging’, a need to participate in sport, either vicariously as a spectator or directly as a participant. Moreover the desire to engage in distraction and play may be intrinsic to the human psyche. The theme throughout the movie was based on the legendary story of the Chicago White Sox of 1919, where the question was raised on the issue of the team’s “sportsmanship” and the ethical behavior of several teammates during the World Series. This left the image of America’s most idolized team tarnished and lead up to a ban of eight players from the sport; for an вЂ?unsportsmanlike’ like conduct in the series. The public view of the game up until then was that of perfection, it was clean and straight; but afterwards, the lack of fair play especially coming from such highly ranked players, ended up affecting fans’ enthusiasm for the entire sport. As the movie nears its ending, Robinson evolved on the concept of having utterly devoted fans and as if in a mystified manner drew them in to this already mystical place, just to have them see the most idolized team of вЂ?the golden age’ play once again. “People will come Ray…for reasons they can’t even fathom...They’ll arrive at the door as innocent as children, longing for the past.” Terence Mann. Robison writes this script in such a way, so he can convey a spiritual change within the hearts and minds of supposedly the entire society, towards a spiritually torn team, the team they once loved to watch.

While in another fashion, “a sense of a spiritual happening” is also insinuated as the author introduces the concept of a вЂ?lost soul’. This perhaps this is the most overt method the author could have used to symbolically tie spiritualism to the love of baseball. In order to resonate to the audience Robinson conceives of a character with a simple unfulfilled wish. Archie вЂ?Moonlight’ Graham, a rookie back in the day, seemed to have received a crushed spirit after achieving so much to get to the Major Leagues, but when getting there his career ends abruptly and he loses his chance at his fifteen minutes of fame. This was a man who had accomplished so much and was capable of that much more, that at the end of his life he remained only a restless spirit because of the lost chance at completing his simple childhood wish. The message that the mysterious voice reiterates, “Ease his pain”, is a phrase that could also have been insinuating to relieve Doctor Graham’s pain, just as it instructed Ray to lighten spirits of the old writer Terence Mann. As the movie came to a conclusion, we realize that amongst